Morus laevigata and Morus serrata are the wild Morus species of mulberry available in India
possess unique features of bigger leaf size, higher leaf moisture and moisture retention, higher protein and
carbohydrate with high adaptability to adverse climatic condition. In an effort to transfer these traits to
cultivated species, inter-specific hybridization was effected between M. indica with M. laevigata and M. indica
with M. serrata. After repeated trial of hybridization, successful F1 seeds were obtained among the crosses. The
F1 hybrids showed better performance than female parent in most of the characters while it was better than m ale
parent for few characters in M. indica with M. laevigata. In another cross, the F1 hybrids showed better
performance than both the parents for most of the characters (M. indica x M. serrata). The crosses are expected
to carry some genetic load, as the wild species were genetically and geographically distant and carry valuable
genes. Polymorphism of genomic DNAs of nine parents and their seven hybrids were obtained from two wild
and four cultivated species. Twelve arbitrary primers of Random Amplified Polymorphic DNA (RAPD)
unraveled abundant polymorphism. Of the F1 hybrids, the banding pattern indicates similar like their respective
parents. However, a few hybrids showed unique bands, which are different from respective parents. The RAPD
technique demonstrated that hereditary variability occurred in between wild and cultivated Morus species at
inter and intra-specific levels.